Coin-controlled vending-machine.



No. 792,885. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

R. P. ELLIOTT. OOIN CONTROLLED VENDING MAOHINL APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1902.

Fig.4.

T/Vizvesses 7 m. P4 v UNITED STATES IPatented. June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD P. ELLIOTT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,885, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed September 26, 1902. Serial No. 124,985.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD P. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Controlled Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification. The object of my inventionis to provide a mechanism operated through the medium of. a coin, the coin-slide of which will automatically lock itself when an attempt is made to operate it by means other than a coin of the proper denomination. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of my device. Figs. 2, 3, and L are longitudinal sections thereof, showing the parts in different relative positions. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a top plate which covers the coin-controlled mechanism, and B is a bottom plate which serves as a guide for the slide. These parts may be mounted in a cabinet of suitable form provided with a merchandise-magazine and the coin-receptacle, as is usual in these machines and as illustrated in my application, Serial No. 84,251, filed November 30, 1901. Mounted between these two parts is the coinslide proper, O, having the coin-aperture O. Attached to the slide O, preferably on the lower side, by means of screws or otherwise, as desired, is a lug K. This lug K is. provided with a hollow plunger K, which receives a stem Q, upon which is threaded the spring S. The spring S has a bearing within the forward end of the plunger K and against a downwardly-projecting part Q of the coverplate A, and this spring serves to return the plunger K, and consequently the coin-slide O, to its normal forward position after each operation thereof. Also in the lug K is mounted a peg K having its upper end beveled in two directions, as shown. Also pivotally mounted on the lug K is an ejecting-linger P, which is normally held with its rear extremity in elevated position by a spring p. The

rear extremity of this ejecting-finger normally lies in the path of the lowermost package of merchandise in the vending-machine; but-after ejecting said last package and upon the return of the ejecting-finger the spring connec tion permits the same to be depressed below the next package in order to pass the same on the return movement.

Mounted on the coin-slide 0 between guideplates B is a slide H, having lugs it at the forward end thereof, on which is pivotally mounted a testing-finger E, which latter is provided with a testing-point e at its forward end and a notch e at its rear end to engage a projection A on the lower side of the coverplate A for a purpose hereinafter described. This testing-finger E is provided with a spring E, which normally exerts an upward pressure upon the rear end of said finger E. The slide H is provided at its rear end with aspringtongue it, having its forward extremity projecting above the rear of a slot 72 in said slide H, and said extremity is of a form adapted to fit the beveled upper end of the peg K Mounted in bearings A on the under side of the cover A is a magnetic testing-finger F. This finger F is provided at its forward end with a magnet F and upon the extension of its rear end with a hook F The finger F is so proportioned that the rear extremity overbalances the forward extremity and normally holds the latter in elevated position in the path of the coin-slide Of Near the rear extremity of the coin-slide O is an upwardly-projecting hook-shaped member C, the tongue of which extends over the horizontal portion of the magnetic finger F, for a purpose hereinafter described.

In Fig. 5 is shown a detailed View of the supporting-slide H for the testing-finger E, and Fig. 6 shows a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. 3 of the bearings of the testingfingers E and F and of the plates B and B and the slides O and H. e

The operation of my device is as follows: Upon placing a coin of the proper denomination in the coin-aperture O of the slide C the plunger K is pressed inwardly or rearwardly, carrying the coin-slide O and the ejecting-finger P with it. As the peg K in the lug K reaches the rear end of the slot k of the slide H said peg causes the slide H, and consequently the testing-finger E, to move in unison with the coin-slide. By reason of the engagement of the notch e of the finger E with a projection A of the cover A the slide H is prevented from moving upon the initial movement of the coin-slide C, thus permitting the testing-point e of said finger E to remain in normal position until the coin in the coin-aperture O is brought beneath said finger. The initial movement of the slide H causes the rear end of the finger E to ride down upon the forward beveled face of the projection A but as soon as the finger E has passed this projection, as shown in Fig. 3, the spring E tends to elevate the rear end of the finger E, and consequently to depress its forward end, bringing the testing-point e in contact With the coin in the coin-aperture O. In this position of the parts the coin-slide, and consequently the ejecting-finger P, are free to move the full stroke until the package of merchandise is ejected from its magazine and the coin is ejected from its slide. Should, however, a coin of less thickness than the proper denomination or should no coin be used, the parts at the critical point of the stroke will assume the position shown in Fig. 4, in which, since the forward end of the testing-finger E has not been obstructed by a coin in the coin-aperture O, the rear extremity thereof is free to rise until it comes in contact with the rear wall of aperture A in the cover A, and thereupon locks the parts from further inward movement before a package of merchandise has been ejected from the magazine.

Should an attempt be made to operate the machine by means of a blank or slug of iron or steel, even though of the thickness of the proper coin, the magnetic testing-finger F will come into play, and as soon as the slide has brought the slug beneath the magnet F said magnet will be depressed by swinging on its pivot A and thereby elevate the hooked end F sufficiently to enable it to engage the hook C on the coin-slide C, and thereby to lock said slide from further inward movement before a package of merchandise has been ejected.

It has been found in practice that unless some means is provided to restrain the slide H after the rear extremity of the finger E has passed the lug A the spring E, acting upon said finger E, tends to cause its rear extremity to ride up upon the rear beveled face of said lug A and consequently to move said finger and slide rearward before an opportunity has been afforded for the testingpoint e to test the coin in the coin-aperture O. The spring it has therefore been devised, which engages over the peg K and causes the slide H to move in unison with the coinslide 0. This construction also provides means for causing the slide H, together with the coin-slide C, to return together toinormal position. i

Many variations in the construction may be devised without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin-contr0lled mechanism, a coinslide; a coin-aperture therein; a coin-testing finger slidably mounted in said coin-slide; means for moving said testing-finger upon said coin-slide to bring one of its ends over the coin-aperture; a magnet pivoted to the casing of the mechanism and arranged with its poles in such position as to be over the coin-aperture when said coin-slide is moved partially inward; a lug attached to the coin-slide adapted to engage a hook portion attached to the magnet; and said hooked portion.

2. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a coinslide and testing means, comprising a cointesting finger, slidably mounted on said coinslide and adapted to oscillate thereon; means for oscillating said cointesting finger, and means whereby the outer end of said cointesting finger is caused to move to a position over the coin-aperture; a coin-aperture; a testing-finger consisting of a magnet pivoted adjacent the coin-slide, and so arranged that its poles will be over the coin-aperture when the coin slide is partially moved inward; and means whereby a magnetic substance placed in the coin-aperture will tilt said magnetic cloidn-testing finger and cause it to lock the coins 1 e.

3. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a slide; a coin-aperture in said slide; a coin-testing finger slidably mounted on said slide; a tilting magnetic testing-finger mounted adjacent the coin-slide and arranged to be moved over the coin-aperture; and means on said finger to lock said slide when a magnetic substance is placed in the coin-aperture.

4. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a coinslide; a coin-aperture therein; a standard slidably mounted on said coin-slide; a coin-testing finger pivotally mounted on said standard and adapted to oscillate thereon; means controlling said cointesting finger to lock the slide when no coin, or an improper token, is placed in the coin-aperture; a magnetic testing-finger pivoted to the casing adjacent said slide, the magnetic poles of which are arranged in the path of the coin-aperture when the coin-slide is moved inward; and means on said magnetic testing-finger to lock the coin-slide when tilted through the means of a magnetic substance placed in the coin-aperture.

5. In a coin-controlled mechanism; a coinslide; a coin-aperture in said slide; a coin-testing finger pivotally mounted and slidable thereon, and having a coin-testing portion adjacent the path of the coin-aperture; a cointesting finger pivoted to a lug attached to the casing of the mechanism; means on said fingers for locking said slide; one of said fingers having a magnet attached to its end.

6. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a coinslide; a coin-aperture in said slide; a coin-testing finger slidably mounted on said slide and adapted to oscillate; means for causing said finger to remain stationary during a portion of the inward movement of the coin-slide to bring the outer end of said testing-finger over the coin-aperture; a coin-testing finger having on one of its ends a magnet pivotally mounted over the coin-slide, the magnetic end of which is arranged in the path of the coin-aperture, and to be brought over same when the coinslide is moved inward; means on the inner ends of both said testing-fingers adapted to cffitact with looking devices to lock said coins 1 e.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this the 10th day of J uly. 1902.

RICHARD P. ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

H. M. KELso, R. C. POWELL. 

